UK vs EU Bed Sizes
By Kaiser Khan, Editor Updated First published
Desk research from official sources. Not a product test or medical advice. How we check facts.
In short
UK and EU mattress sizes share names but not footprints. A UK Double is typically 135 × 190 cm. A common EU or IKEA Double is 140 × 200 cm. A UK King at 150 × 200 cm is narrower than many EU King sizes near 160 × 200 cm. Always compare centimetres, never size names alone.
- UK Double (cm)
- 135 × 190
- Common EU / IKEA Double (cm)
- 140 × 200
- UK King (cm)
- 150 × 200
- Common EU King (cm)
- 160 × 200
Domestic UK retail name.
Same word. Different plan.
Not a 160 cm continental King.
About 5 cm extra each side versus a UK King frame.
About 7 minutes to read
How it works
| Size name | Width (cm) | Length (cm) | Width (in) | Length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Double | 135 | 190 | — | — |
| EU / IKEA Double (common) | 140 | 200 | — | — |
| UK King | 150 | 200 | — | — |
| EU King (common) | 160 | 200 | — | — |
Do UK and EU beds use the same size names?
They use the same words. They do not use the same centimetres. A UK Double is typically 135 × 190 cm. A common EU or IKEA Double is 140 × 200 cm. A UK King is 150 × 200 cm. A common EU King is 160 × 200 cm. Never pair a name on a UK ticket with a name on a continental ticket.
The table on this page is the pairing BedGuide uses. It was checked in September 2026 against IKEA UK’s size guide and the Which? size table. Individual brands can still print a different millimetre. The centimetre line on the product wins.
Is a UK King the same as an EU King?
No. A UK King is 150 × 200 cm. A common EU King is 160 × 200 cm. Both are 200 cm long, but the EU King is 10 cm wider. So a UK King mattress, sheet or frame will not match an EU King cleanly.
If you want an EU-style 160 cm width in the UK, measure first. A UK Super King at 180 × 200 cm is the next UK size up.
Will a UK mattress fit an EU bed frame?
Not cleanly. You get gaps or overhang. A UK Double (135 cm) on a 140 cm EU frame leaves about 2.5 cm each side. The mattress can walk. A UK King (150 cm) on a 160 cm EU frame leaves about 5 cm each side. An EU King (160 cm) on a UK King frame (150 cm) overhangs by about 5 cm each side.
Length mismatches matter too. UK Double is usually 190 cm long. Many EU doubles are 200 cm. Sheets and footboards will not agree.
Will a UK mattress fit an IKEA bed frame?
Yes, if the IKEA frame is a UK size. IKEA UK says it sells UK mattress sizes. Its guide lists the five standard UK sizes. They run from Single 90 × 190 cm to Super King 180 × 200 cm.
Some IKEA frames take other centimetres. Bunk, loft and children’s beds use 90 × 200 cm. Day beds use 80 × 200 cm. Sofa beds use 140 × 200 cm. Which? also notes that some older IKEA beds take EU sizes.
A 90 × 200 IKEA mattress is 10 cm longer than a UK Single. It will not sit like a UK Single on a UK 190 cm frame. Read both labels in centimetres.
Which sheets should I buy?
Match the mattress centimetres, not the bedstead’s marketing name. A “King” fitted sheet from a UK shop is cut for about 150 × 200 cm. It will be short on width for a 160 cm EU mattress. Depth is a third measurement — see mattress depth and UK fitted sheet sizes.
What about EU Single and Super King names?
A UK Single is 90 × 190 cm. Many EU singles are 90 × 200 cm — same width, extra length. A UK Super King is 180 × 200 cm. Continental “180 × 200” listings can match that plan size even when the local name is not “Super King”. Again: read centimetres.
Some EU shops also sell 100 × 200 and 120 × 200. Those are not UK Small Double (120 × 190) or UK Single. A 120 × 200 mattress is 10 cm longer than a UK Small Double. Sheets and footboards will show it.
If you only need the UK table, stay on UK standard sizes. Use this page when two tickets from two countries are about to meet in one bedroom.
Which IKEA UK lines match a UK retail name?
IKEA UK is a mixed catalogue. Its own mattress size guide (checked 25 September 2026) lists standard UK sizes and extra centimetre lines. Same shop. Different plans.
| IKEA UK label (from their guide) | Centimetres | Same as a UK retail name? |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Single (UK) | 90 × 190 | Yes — UK Single |
| Standard Double (UK) | 135 × 190 | Yes — UK Double |
| Standard King (UK) | 150 × 200 | Yes — UK King |
| Super King | 180 × 200 | Yes — UK Super King |
| Small Double | 120 × 190 | Yes — UK Small Double |
| Junior (bunk, loft and children’s beds) | 90 × 200 | No — 10 cm longer than UK Single |
| Small Single (day beds, children’s extendable beds) | 80 × 200 | No — the usual UK Small Single is 75 × 190 |
| Sofa beds (their pairing table) | 140 × 200 | No — EU-style Double, not 135 × 190 |
If the IKEA page only shows a name, open the centimetre line. A 90 × 200 mattress will not sit like a UK Single on a 190 cm UK frame.
What about US sizes in the same room?
US Twin, Full, Queen, King and California King are a third system. They do not map cleanly onto UK or EU names. If anything in the room came from North America, open US mattress sizes and US Queen vs UK King as well.
A US Queen is about 152 × 203 cm. That is close to a UK King of 150 × 200 cm and still not a match you should guess. Sheets and frames will show the miss.
What linen fails first when you mix systems?
Fitted sheets fail first. A UK King sheet is cut for about 150 × 200 cm. On a 160 × 200 cm mattress the elastic sits short on width. A UK Double sheet (135 × 190) on a 140 × 200 mattress is short on length. Duvets fail next, because overhang is part of the cut. Pillows do not change with region names. Depth is a third measurement — see fitted sheets.
| Mix | Typical result |
|---|---|
| UK Double mattress on 140 cm EU frame | About 2.5 cm gap each side; mattress can walk |
| UK King mattress on 160 cm EU frame | About 5 cm gap each side |
| EU King mattress on UK King frame | About 5 cm overhang each side |
| UK Double sheets on 140 × 200 mattress | Short on length; corners pop |
| UK King duvet on 160 cm mattress | Can look skimpy on width |
In short: write three centimetre pairs before you pay — mattress, frame, sheets.
Are the gaps “close enough” within UK making spread?
No. The National Bed Federation says there is no legal UK size-tolerance standard. Accepted industry practice is plus or minus 20 mm on a stated pair. That note was checked on 25 September 2026.
Twenty millimetres can explain a 149 cm “King”. It cannot explain a 160 cm continental King. Those are different regional sizes. Do not treat a 10 cm miss as ordinary making spread.
Quick pairing rules
- Never assume a name match means a centimetre match.
- Prefer buying mattress, base and sheets from the same regional size system.
- If you mix, write the three centimetre pairs down before you pay.
- For the UK-only table, use UK standard sizes.
- For a Double-only showdown, see UK Double vs EU Double.
In short: the word “King” is a nickname. The centimetre pair is the fact.
Related BedGuide entries
Frequently asked questions
Can a UK Double mattress fit an IKEA 140 cm bed frame?
A UK Double mattress is typically 135 cm wide, so it can sit on a 140 cm European frame with side gaps of about 2.5 cm each side. Those gaps may let the mattress shift unless a retainer, non-slip pad, or correctly sized European mattress is used.
Why do UK and EU King mattresses not interchange cleanly?
A UK King mattress is usually 150 × 200 cm. Many EU King mattresses are 160 × 200 cm. The 10 cm width difference means a UK King leaves gaps on a 160 cm European base, and an EU King overhangs a 150 cm UK frame.
Are IKEA bed sizes EU sizes?
Mostly not in the UK. IKEA UK says it sells UK mattress sizes, from UK Single 90 × 190 to Super King 180 × 200. Its guide also lists 90 × 200, 80 × 200 and 140 × 200 mattresses for some frames. Read the centimetre line, not the shop name.
Is a UK Super King the same as an EU 180 × 200 bed?
In plan size, usually yes. A UK Super King is 180 × 200 cm. Many EU shops sell 180 × 200 cm under a different name. Still read both labels, because real mattresses can differ from the label by up to about 2 cm.
What sheets fit a 140 × 200 IKEA sofa-bed mattress?
A UK Double sheet cut for 135 × 190 cm will be short on length and a little tight on width. Use a sheet sold for 140 × 200 cm, or measure both plan size and pocket depth before you buy.
Where do these facts come from?
BedGuide is desk research. The numbers and rules on this page were checked against the official or primary sources below. We name the check date. We do not invent a figure when a source is missing.
- IKEA UK mattress size guide — Says IKEA UK sells UK mattress sizes. Lists the five standard UK sizes plus 90 × 200, 80 × 200 (called Small Single) and 140 × 200 (sofa beds) lines. Checked 2026-09-25.
- Which? — UK bed and mattress size guide — Consumer size table listing Euro Single 90 × 200, Euro Double 140 × 200 and Euro King 160 × 200 cm. Notes that some older IKEA beds take EU sizes. Checked 2026-09-25.
- National Bed Federation — regulations and standards — No legal UK size-tolerance Act. Industry practice is ±20 mm on a stated pair, which does not turn 150 cm into 160 cm. Checked 2026-09-25.